Pressure member, fixing device, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A fixing device includes a rotatably-supported first fixing member and a second fixing member pressed against the first member. The second member includes a belt-shaped component, a support component, and a pressing component. The belt-shaped component extends in a width direction of a medium passing through a contact region between the belt-shaped component and the first member. The support component is disposed opposite the first member with the belt-shaped component interposed therebetween. The pressing component has a base end supported by the support component and a free end extending toward the contact region and presses the belt-shaped component against the first member. The pressing component has biasing portions arranged apart in the width direction and elastically deformable in correspondence with the medium thickness. The biasing portions are connected in the width direction by the free end. The free end is disposed at an upstream side in a medium transport direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fixing device comprising:
 a first fixing member that is supported in a rotatable manner; and 
 a second fixing member that is pressed against the first fixing member, the second fixing member including:
 a belt-shaped component extending in a width direction of a medium that passes through a contact region where the belt-shaped component comes into contact with the first fixing member; 
 a support component that is disposed opposite the first fixing member with the belt-shaped component interposed therebetween; and 
 a pressing component that has a base end portion supported by the support component and a free end portion extending toward the contact region and that presses the belt-shaped component against the first fixing member, 
 
 wherein the pressing component has a plurality of biasing portions that are arranged apart in the width direction and that are elastically deformable in correspondence with a thickness of the medium, 
 wherein the biasing portions are connected in the width direction of the medium by the free end portion, and 
 wherein the free end portion is disposed at an upstream side of the biasing portions in a transport direction of the medium. 
 
     
     
       2. The fixing device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a gap between the biasing portions extends to a position corresponding to the contact region. 
 
     
     
       3. The fixing device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the pressing component is provided with a bent portion such that the belt-shaped component comes into contact with the first fixing member at a plurality of positions in a rotational direction of the first fixing member. 
 
     
     
       4. The fixing device according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein a gap between the biasing portions extends to an area of the bent portion. 
 
     
     
       5. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a transfer device that transfers an image onto a medium from an image carrier that carries the image on a surface of the image carrier; and 
 the fixing device according to  claim 1  that heats and presses the image transferred on the medium so as to fix the image onto the medium. 
 
     
     
       6. A pressure member that is pressed against a first fixing member supported in a rotatable manner, the pressure member comprising:
 a belt-shaped component extending in a width direction of a medium that passes through a contact region where the belt-shaped component comes into contact with the first fixing member; 
 a support component that is disposed opposite the first fixing member with the belt-shaped component interposed therebetween; and 
 a pressing component that has a base end portion supported by the support component and a free end portion extending toward the contact region and that presses the belt-shaped component against the first fixing member by causing the free end portion to press the belt-shaped component toward the first fixing member, 
 wherein the pressing component has a plurality of biasing portions that are arranged apart in the width direction and that are elastically deformable in correspondence with a thickness of the medium, 
 wherein the biasing portions are connected in the width direction of the medium by the free end portion, and 
 wherein the free end portion is disposed at an upstream side of the biasing portions in a transport direction of the medium.